Lasting-machine.



E. I. LA OHAPELLE.

LASTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.'21, 1913.

Patented Mar. 17,1914.

2 SHEETS-11331? 1.

E. I. LA GHAPELLB.

LASTING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21, 1913.

71 090 547 Patented Mar.17,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

coLuMam l'LANOGRAPH CO.,\'\'ASH|NGTDN, n, c.

EUCLID I. LA CHAPELLE, 0F BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS.

LASTING-MACI-IINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

Application filed March 21, 1913. Serial N 0. 755,900.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EUoLIn I. LA CHA- rnLLn, of Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have lnvented certain new and useful Improvements in Lasting-Machines, of which the following is a specification. n

This invention relates to machines for lasting boots and shoes, and more particularly to machines for this purpose having a plurality of grippers for engaging the up per and working it on the last.

A lasting machine of this general type is shown in the patent to Ronald McFeely, No. 663,777, dated December 11, 1900. The machine illustrated in that patent has been selected as illustrating a type of lasting machine to which this invention may be applied, but it is to be understood that thls 1nvention may equally well be applied to other machines without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The object of the present invention is to provide a lasting machine which will produce a better lasted shoe than is produced by those at present in use, and with less danger of injury to the shoe while being worked on the last. This object is attained by constructing a machine which works the upper on the last by the methods employed by the most expert hand lasters, as is hereinafter set forth. To the accomplishment of this object, one feature of the invention contemplates the provision of means 111 a machine of the character described for pulling the upper on the last, step by step. In its broadest aspect, this feature of the 111- vention may comprise means for working the upper on the last by progressing 1n either direction, but in the best form at pres ent known to the inventor, the lnvention is.

most effectively reduced to practice by pulling from the vicinity of the shank toward the toe by means of successive pulling movements of grippers on both sides of the shoe.

Nhen a shoe is lasted by simultaneously straining the upper on the last, 1t is apparent that the strain of the upper on the last near the tip-seam will tend to prevent that part of the upper from moving longitudinally of the last as might be necessary in order to secure the best result. I prefer to commence the lasting operation at the sides of the last, by moving the grippers at each. side of the last, at or near the shank. This will strain the upper over the instep of the last which has a steep slant toward the toe. At thistime, the fore part of the upper isfree to move on the last except that, in some instances, it may have been engaged by the grippers at the toe-end of the last.

Thus the upper is free to slide down the incline of the instep toward the toe and so adjust itself to the last. The next grippers thrown into operation may, for purpose of illustration, engage the vamp at or near the tip-seam. This portion of the upper may then be strained and set to the wood which will take up any fulness in the upper which may have been forced toward the toe from the grippers previously moved. This feature of the invention embodies the method of a skilful hand laster using a single pair of pincers.

Another feature of the invention comprises the provision of independent lasting devices or grippers to act upon the lining. A serious objection has been found in the use of grippers which collectively engage the upper and the lining. The reason for this is that there is very little stretch or give to an ordinary fabric lining, but there is much more stretch to the upper, particularly in low grade shoes. It is apparent that if the lining stretches less than the upper, and they are both held by the same grippers, the part which stretches less will take the whole strain of the pulling movement. The result is that the lining will either be torn or well set to the last, but the upper will not be well set to the lining. Another difliculty is that the strain of the lining over the toe of the last prevents the lining from being easily set to the lines of the last, back of the toe, at the side lasting operation. In order to overcome those difficulties, I provide independent grippers for lasting the lining. These grippers preferably operate to pull the lining before the upper is completely strained. In this manner, the lining is first set to the wood and then the upper is set to the lining which has then practically become a part of the last.

Another advantage secured by the use of my invention is that the shoe may be well lasted with less pulling power on the grippers which will prevent tearing the work as frequently occurs when the upper and lining are both lasted together. It will be ob vious that this feature closely approximates the most skilful hand operative who pulls the lining before the upper or the upper before the lining in the case of turn shoes. IV hen independent lining grippers are combined with the step by step lasting feature, the sequence of operation of the various grippers is preferably as follows: The toeend gripper is first moved. Then the grippers for pulling the lining at the sides of the last are moved. It is common to operate the toe-end gripper before the side grippers. Then the grippers for engaging the sides of the upper are moved, commencing with the grippers on the opposite sides of the last nearest the shank, and the grippers toward the tip are next moved. I prefer to engage and pull the tip, the lining and the boxtoe piece together as that portion of the upper is more easily set to the last.

The word work as used in the specification and claims is to he understood as including within its meaning, when the context so permits, all the parts of a lasted shoe z the tip and vamp and the lining and such material as may be there between. In some instances, the upper is specified as being distinct from the lining, both meanings of the words being common to the art and well understood by the artisans.

To the accomplishment of these objects and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the combination and arrangements of parts hereinafter de scribed and specifically pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lasting machine and of a shoe in readiness to be engaged by the grippers. This machine is of the type shown in the aforementioned patent to McFeely having the present invention embodied therein; Fig. 2 is a detail showing particularly the mechanism for moving the grippers at the sides of the last; Fig. 3 is a section of the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail show ing the devices for engaging the bottom of the shoe and for moving it with relation to the grippers; Fig. 5 is a section of the line 5-5 of Fig. 4:; Fig. 6 is a detail view of the toe-end gripper; Fig. 7 is a plan of the levers for moving the grippers, and Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the arrangement of the gripper to engage the upper and the lining independently and both together.

The general method of operation of the machine shown in Fig. 1 is identical with the McFecly machine. In common with that machine the grippers are closed and moved by levers pivoted at 1 and actuated by the rotation of a cam 2 on the main shaft 8, or may be closed and moved by the operator. Motion is transmitted to the levers through springs 1 in order that a yielding strain may be exerted on the work. In the present invention, I prefer to provide a separate lever for each gripper as is shown in Fig. 7. In this figure, the two outside levers 5 are shown as being operatively connected with the grippers 6. The next levers 7 move grippers 8. The next pair of levers 9, toward the center of the machine move grippers 10. The center lever 11 moves the toe-end gripper 12. The inner jaw of the toe-end gripper is preferably a smooth surface or of smoother surface.

than its cooperating jaw, allows-the material, in contact with the jaw, to slip back, in the hollow, back of the toe, when the lining is moved by the grippers at the sides of the last.

In the case of turn shoes, the upper then will be next to the last and in contact with the smooth surfacejaw of the toe gripper. \Vhat applies in this specification to the lining of such shoes as welts and McKays applies to the upper of turn shoes.

The mechanism for holding the last against the strain ofthe grippers and for moving it in a direction opposite to the pull of the grippers is shown in Figs. at and 5.

Feet 13 are adjustably mounted on a mem-' ber 1-1- which is pivotally mounted at 15 in the machine head. A cam roll 16 carried by the member 14 engages a cam 17 secured to the shaft 1. This mechanism which is wellknown to those skilled in the art, acts to force the last into the upper.

The grippers 10 are the ones which engage the lining as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. These grippers are slightly out of line with the other grippers so that they are positioned farther toward the center of the shoe. The connection between the grippers 10 and the lever 9 may be the usual ball and socket joint indicated at 18. The ball and socket joint may also be employed for connecting thelever 11 with the toe-end gripper 12.

In order to provide for the successive operation of the side grippers, I prefer to allow varying amounts of lost motion between the levers and the holding connections with their respective grippers. Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the grippers 6 and 8 are held by rods 19 which are operatively connected with their cooperating levers. The rods 19 pass through clearance holes in the levers which are preferably tapered as shown-at 2-0, Fig. 3. A collar 21 is secured to each rod 19 below the lever. On the upper side of the lever there is a second collar 22 which is tapered to take a thread on the rod and which may be adjusted toward and from the first collar by loosening a set-screw 23. As the levers are all actuated simultaneously, the distance between the lever and the collar 22, determines the time at which each gripper held by each of the rods 19, shall operate. I generally would have the gripper nearest the shank of the shoe engage and pull the upper and the lining collectively beforev the start of operation of the remainder of the grippers at the sides of the last. An adjustment to produce this result is shown in Fig. 2 Where the collar 22 connected with the gripper S will be the first to be engaged by its cooperating lever. The collar 22 will be next engaged by its cooperating lever, thus securing a step by step lasting toward the toe. The number of grippers to engage the sides of the upper may be increased as desired, and may extend from the heel-end to the toe-end of the last.

It will beunderstood that the grippers on the opposite side of the last, which are not shown in the drawings, may be moved by their cooperating levers in unison with the grippers which are illustrated, or if desired, the grippers at one side may be moved sooner or later than the grippers at the other side. For the purpose of simplicity, the lasting machineshown in the drawings is not provided with means for exerting anything but a straightpull at the sides of the upper. A machine having provision for a fore-draw movement of the side grippers is shown in the patent to Arthur Bates, No. 1,006,456, dated October 24, 1911. A skilled mechanic could embody the present invention in the Bates machine if a foredraw movement of the side grippers were desired.

Having described the preferred manner of carrying my invention into effect Without attempting to go into the various modifications of which the invention is capable, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A lasting machine, having, in combination, a set of grippers adapted to be posi tioned'at opposite sides of a last, to pull the work on the last, additional grippers adapt-- ed to be positioned at opposite sides of the last to pull the work on the last, means at one side of the last to support the grippers included in the set of grippers, independently of the grippers included in the additional grippers at that side of the last. means at the opposite side of the last to support the grippers included in the set of grippers independently of the grippers included in the additional grippers at that side of the last, and means to permit positive predeteii'mination of the time of action of the set of grippers relatively to the time of action oi the additional grippers.

2. A lasting machine, having, in combi nation, a toe-end gripper 12, having moving lever 11, linlng grippers 10, hav ng mov ng levers 9, upper grippers 8, having moving levers 7 grippers 6, to engage and pull both the upper and the lining, having moving levers 5, direct connections between the grippers 12 and 10 and their cooperating moving levers, and adjustable collars 22, to allow lost motion between the grippers 8 and 6 and their cooperating moving lovers.

3. A lasting machine, having, in combina tion, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of a last to engage an upper on the last, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of the last to engage the lining and grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of the last to engage the upper and the lining collectively, means at one side of the last to support the upper engaging grippers independently of the lining engaging grippers at that side of the last, means at the opposite side of the last to support the upper engaging grippers independently of the lining engaging grippers at that side of the last, and independent means to permit variation of the time of action of the grippers.

4:. A lasting machine, having, in combina' tion, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of a last, to engage an upper on the last, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of the last to engage the lining, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of the last to engage collectively the lining and the upper, means at one side of the last to support the upper engaging grippers independently of the lining engaging grippers at that side of the last, means at the opposite side of the last to support the upper engaging grippers in dependently of the lining engaging grippers at that side of the last, and means to permit movements firstly, of the grippers engaging collectively the lining and the upper; secondly, of the grippers engaging the lining; and thirdly, of the grippers engaging the upper;

5. A lasting machine, having, in combination, one set of grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of a last, to engage and pull an upper on the last, one set of grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of the last to engage and pull the lining, means at one side of the last to sup-- port the upper grippers independently of the lining grippers at that side of the last, means at the opposite side of the last, to support the upper grippers independently of the lining grippers at that side of the last, and means to permit greater pulling force to one set of grippers than to the remainder of the sets of grippers.

6. A lasting machine, having, in combination, a plurality of grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of a last to pull an upper 011 the last, additional grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of the last to pull the lining, means at one-side of the last to support the upper grippers independently of the lining grippers at that side of the last, and means at the opposite side of the last to support the upper grippers independently of the lining grippers at that side of the last, said supporting means being arranged to permit the operator to move some of the grippers independently of the remainder of the grippers.

7. A lasting machine, having, in combination, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of a last, to pull an upper on the last, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of the last to pull the lining, means at one side of the last to support the lining grippers independently of the upper grippers at that side of the last, means at the opposite side of the last to support the lining grippers independently of the upper grippers at that side of the last, and means to permit predetermination of the time of action of the upper grippers relatively to the predeterminatio-n of the time of action of the lining grippers.

8. A lasting machine, having, in combi nation, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of a last to engage an upper on a last, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of the last to engage the lining, means at one side of the last to support the grippers engaging the upper independently of the grippers engaging the lining at that side of the last, means at the opposite side of the last to support the grippers engaging the upper independently of the grippers engaging the lining at that side of the last, and means to permit completion of the pulling movement of the grippers engaging the lining prior to the completion of the pulling movement of the grippers engaging the upper.

9. A lasting machine, having, in combination, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of a last to pull an upper on the last, additional grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of the last to pull the lining, means at one side of the last to support the lining grippers out of alinement relatively to the upper grippers at that side of the last, means at the opposite side of the last to support the lining grippers out of alinement relatively to the upper grippers at that side of the last, and means to permit the lining grippers to pull the lining prior to the start of the pulling movement of the upper grippers upon the upper. V

10. A lasting machine, having, in combination, three independent sets of grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of a last to engage respectively the lining, the upper and the lining collectively, and the upper on the last, means at one side of the last to support the grippers included in some of the sets of grippers independently of the remainder of the grippers at that side of the last, and means at the opposite side of the last to support the grippers included in some adapted to be positioned at opposite sides 7 of the last to pull the Work on the last, means at one side of the last to support the grip pers included in the set of grippers independently of the additional grippers at that side of the last, and means at the opposite side of the last to support the grippers included in the set of grippers independently or the additional grippers at that side of the last, said supporting means 'loeing ar-' ranged to permit the operator to move at each side of the last the set of grippers and.

the additional grippers independently to finally work the upper on the last. v

12. A lasting machine, having, in'combination, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of a last to engage and pull the edge of an upper over the last, additional grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of the last to engage the edge of the upper, means at one side of the last to support some of the grippers independently of the remainder of the grippers at that side of the last, means at the opposite side of the last to support some of the grippers independently of the remainder of the grippers at that side of the last, means to permit some of the grippers to engage the Work Without pulling on the worlgand means to move the last during the time the upper is engaged by the grippers.

18. A lasting machine, having, in combination, a set of grippers adapted to he positioned at opposite sides of a last to engage the Work on the last, a second setof grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of the last to engage the work on the last, means at one side of the last to support the grippers included in some of the sets of grippers independently of the remainder of the grippers at that side of the last, and means at the opposite side of the last to support the grippers included in some of the sets of grippers independently of the remainder of the grippers at that side of the last, means to move the last, and means to permit variation of the time of action of each set of grippers relatively to the time of action of the means to move the last.

14:. A lasting machine, having, in combination, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of a last to engage the work at the ball of the last, grippers adapted to be positioned at Opposite sides of the last to engage the work at the forepart of the last, means at one side of the last to support the grippers at the ball of the last independently of the grippers at the forepart of the last at that side of the last, means at the opposite side of the last to support the grippers at the ball of the last independently of the grippers at the forepart of the last at that side of the last, and means to permit the grippers at the forepart of the last to start their pulling movement after the start of the pulling movement of the grippers at the ball of the last. 7

15. A lasting machine, having, in combination, a set of grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of a last to pull an upper on the last, a set of grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of the last to pull the lining, means at one side of the last to support the grippers included in some of the sets of grippers independently of the grippers included in the remainder of the sets of grippers at that side of the last, means at the opposite side of the last to support the grippers included in some of the sets of grippers independently of the grippers included in the remainder of the sets of grippers at that side of the last, and means adapted to cause one set of grippers to pull the work prior to the start of the pulling movement of the remainder of the sets of grippers.

16. A lasting machine, having, in combination, independent sets of grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of a last to pull the work on the last, means at one side of the last to support the grippers included in some of the sets of grippers independently of the grippers included in the remainder of the sets of grippers at that side of the last, means at the opposite side of the last to support the grippers included in some of the sets of grippers independently of the grippers included in the remainder of the sets of grippers at that side of the last, and means to permit variation of the relative time of action of the sets of grippers.

17 A lasting machine, having, in combination, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of a last to engage the work at the ball of the last, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of the last to engage the work at the forepart of the last, a gripper, having one of its jaws smoother than its cooperating jaw, adapted to be positioned at the toe-end of the last to engage the work on the last, means at one side of the last to support the grippers at the ball of the last independently of the grippers at the forepart of the last at that slde of the last, and means at the opposite side of the last to support the grippers at the ball of the last independently of the grippers at the forepart of the last at that side of the last.

18. A lasting machine, having, in combination, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of a last to pull a vamp on the last, grippers adapted to be positoined at opposite sides of the last to pull the tip on the last, means at one side of the last to support the grippers for pulling the vamp independently of the grippers for pulling the tip at that side of the last, means at the opposite side of the last to support the grippers for pulling the vamp independently of the grippers for pulling the tip at that side of the last, and independent means to permit variation of the pulling force of the grippers.

19. A lasting machine, having, in combination, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of a last near the ball of the last to engage the work on the last, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of the last near the toe of the last to engage the work on the last, means at one side of the last to support the grippers near the ball of the last independently of the grippers near the toe of the last at that side of the last, means at the opposite side of the last to support the gripper near the ball of the last independently of the grippers near the toe of the last at that side of the last, means to permit the grippers near the ball. of the last to engage the work before the engagement of the grippers near the toe of the last, and means to move the last during the time the grippers near the ball of the last are in engagement with the work.

20. A lasting machine, having, in combination, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of a last to engage the work at the ball of the last, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of the last to engage the work at the forepart of the last, means at one side of the last to support the grippers at the ball of the last independently of the grippers at the forepart of the last at that side of the last, and means at the opposite side of the last to support the grippers at the ball of the last independently of the grippers at the fo-repart of the last at that side of the last, said supporting mean being arranged to permit the operator to move the grippers at the ball of the last independently of the grippers at the forepart of the last.

21. A lasting machine, having, in combination, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of a last to engage an upper and the lining, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of the last to engage the lining, means at one side of the last to support the upper and lining engaging grippers independently of the lining e11- gaging grippers at that side of the last,

' means at the opposite side of the last to sup port the upper and lining engaging grippers independently of the lining engaging grippers at that side of the last and means to permit movement of the upper and lining engaging grippers during the movement of the lining engaging grippers.

A lasting machine, having, in combination, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides'of a last, to engage an upper and the lining, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of the last to engage the lining, means, at one side of the last, to support the upper and lining engaging grippers independently of the lining engaging grippers at that side of the last, means at the opposite side of the last to support the upper and lining engaging grippers independently of the lining engaging grippers at that side of the last, and means to permit movement of the upper and lining engaging grippers prior to the start of movement of the lining engaging grippers.

23. A lasting machine, having, in combination, one set of grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of a last, to engage and pull an upper on the last, one set of grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite ides of the last to engage and pull the lining, means at one side of the last to support the upper grippers independently of the lining grippers at that side of the last, means at the opposite side of the last to support the upper grippers independently of the lining grippers at that side of the last, and means to permit movement of one set of grippers prior to the start of movement of the remaining set of grippers.

24. A lasting machine, having, in combination, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of the ball of the last to engage and pull an upper on the last, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of the toe of the last to engage and pull collectively the upper and the lining on the last, grippers adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of the last between the ball and the toe grippers to engage and pull the lining on the last, and means, to permit movements, firstly, of the lining engaging grippers, secondly, of the upper engaging grippers, and thirdly, of the upper and lining engaging grippers. V

In testimony whereof, I have affixed my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

EUCLID I. LA CHAPELLE. Vitnesses:

H. B. DAVIS, C. DOYLE.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner oi Patents. Washington, D. G. 

